DID YOU READ

Over the weekend, IFC had the pleasure of covering the Los Angeles Times Hero Complex Film Festival at LA Live. It was a long three days of screenings that included Q&A sessions with fan favorite celebrities like Malcom McDowell, Edgar Wright, Robert Kirkman and Nathan Fillion, as well as surprise guests like Simon Pegg and Rick Baker.

The first day of the festival included screenings of Zack Snyder‘s “Dawn of the Dead” remake and Wright and Pegg’s “Shaun of the Dead.” Though they spent plenty of time talking about the films they were there to honor, Snyder, Wright and Pegg also teased some of their upcoming projects. Here are the latest updates on “The World’s End,” “Man of Steel,”“Star Trek 2” and “Ant-Man.”

“The World’s End”
Fans might be hoping that Edgar Wright will start work on “Ant-Man” soon, especially with the incredible wave that “The Avengers” is riding right now, but when Wright was speaking before the “Shaun of the Dead” screening Friday night, he made it seem like that film is not his top priority.

“Me and Simon [Pegg] are very much hoping to do ‘The World’s End’ soon. We’ll see,” he said.

That’s good news for fans of Wright’s Blood and Ice Cream trilogy, at least. Since Wright has previously said he expected “Ant-Man” to shoot within the year, that means he and Pegg are likely going to start filming “The World’s End” within the next few months.

“It was a joy to write this one, and I think it’s because we’ve done it a few times and kind of know what to expect,” Pegg said during a surprise appearance after the screening. “We’re a little mature and I used to really love coming to work and it was a great experience and I cannot wait to start making the film.”

When someone asked Pegg whether he’d want to work with Wright again after they wrap the final film in their trilogy, he answered simply, “I want to work with Ed until I die.” But he also elaborated on how these three seemingly unrelated movies will work as a threesome.

“The thing about ‘Shaun,’ ‘Hot Fuzz’ and ‘World’s End’ is that, I’ve said this on Twitter recently, but it’s very easy to sell something just because it’s three. I think these films, when you see them all together, will feel like a trilogy,” he said. “And the next thing we do might just be a one-off, who knows. But these three films, when you finally see ‘World’s End,’ they will sit together as a threesome.”

Wright added, “We never ever really wanted to do a sequel to ‘Shaun of the Dead’ or ‘Hot Fuzz,’ but we did want to do like a thematic trilogy. … The idea is that the third one is no returning characters but it is something that makes the other two films part of a trilogy.”

Is the fact that they’re called the Blood and Ice Cream trilogy news to you? Well, Wright also took the time to explain how a joke during the interview gave them that name. It all started with an English ice cream treat called a Cornetto that has a small part in both movies.

“It’s funny, there’s this thing called Cornetto that’s a sort of British ice cream. This trilogy that has formed, I said in a joke in an interview, I can’t even remember who the interview was for, since we had Cornettos in both movies and they said, Are you going to do a trilogy, and I said yeah, it’s going to be like Krzysztof Kieslowski’s ‘The Three Colors Trilogy,’ ‘The Three-Flavored Cornetto,’ and it’s a joke that stuck,” Wright explained.

Originally, there weren’t even supposed to be Cornettos in “Hot Fuzz,” but after the studio gave away free ice creams at the “Shaun of the Dead” premiere, Wright and Pegg figured they’d write in some more of the tasty treats in the hopes of getting more Cornettos at the “Hot Fuzz” premiere. They didn’t.

“Basically third time lucky. That’s the whole idea,” Wright said with a laugh. He added, “[A Cornetto is] the weirdest thing you would want to eat at that time in the morning. The fact that he’s sort of not even awake … but also the reason was that when I was in college I got very, very drunk one night and I had a Cornetto in the morning and I felt a lot better, so it became my hangover cure. The strawberry ones particular.”

The Best Of The Last

The end is near. In mere days Portlandia wraps up its final season, and oh what a season it’s been. Lucky for you, you can watch the entire season right now right here and on the IFC app, including this free episode courtesy of Subaru.

But now, let’s take a moment to look back at some of the new classics Fred and Carrie have so thoughtfully bestowed upon us. (We’ll be looking back through tear-blurred eyes, but you do you.)

Couples Dinner

It’s not that being single sucks, it’s that you suck if you’re single.

Cancel it!

A sketch for anyone who has cancelled more appointments than they’ve kept. Which is everyone.

Forgotten America

This one’s a “Serial” killer…everything both right and wrong about true crime podcasts.

Wedding Planners

The only bad wedding is a boring wedding.

Disaster Hut

It’s only the end of the world if your doomsday kit doesn’t include rosé.

Your Portlandia Personality Test

Carrie and Fred understand that although we have so much in common, we’re each so beautifully unique and different. To help us navigate those differences, Portlandia has found an easy and honest way to embrace our special selves in the form of a progressive new traffic system: a specific lane for every kind of driver. It’s all in honor of the show’s 8th and final season, and it’s all presented by Subaru.

Ready to find out who you really are? Match your personality to a lane and hop on the expressway to self-understanding.

Lane 10: Trucks Piled With Junk

Your junk is falling out of your trunk. Shake a tail light, people — this lane is for you.

Lane 33: Twins

You’re like a Gemini, but waaaay more pedestrian. Maybe you and a friend just wear the same outfits a lot. Who cares, it’s just twinning enough to make you feel special.

Lane 27: Broken Windows

Bad luck follows you around and everyone knows it. Your proverbial seat is always damp from proverbial rain. Is this the universe telling you to swallow your pride? Yes.

Lane 69: Filthy Cars

You’re all about convenience. Getting your car washed while you drive is a no-brainer.

Lane 43: Newly Divorced Singles

It’s been a while since you’ve driven alone, and you don’t know the rules of the road anymore. What’s too fast? What’s too slow? Are you sending the right signals? Don’t worry, the breakdown lane is nearby if you need it.

Still can’t find a lane to match your personality? Check out all the videos here. And see the final season of Portlandia this spring on IFC.

Last-Minute Holiday Gift Guide

It’s the final countdown to Christmas and thanks to IFC’s movie marathon all Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, you can revel in classic ’80s films AND find inspiration for your last-minute gifts. Here are our recommendations, if you need a head start:

Musical Instrument

Great analog entertainment substitute when you refuse to give your kid the Nintendo Switch they’ve been drooling over.

Breakfast In Bed

Any significant other or child would appreciate these Uncle Buck-approved flapjacks. Just make sure you’re not stuck on clean up duty.

Cocktail Supplies

You’ll need them to get through the holidays.

Dance Lessons

So you can learn to shake-shake-shake (unless you know ghosts willing to lend a hand).

Comfy Clothes

With all the holiday meals, there may be some…embigenning.

Get even more great inspiration all Christmas Eve and Day on IFC, and remember…